Dads writing about kids' culture

“The Garbage Pail Kids” Will Return to Theaters

In 1986, when I was in seventh grade, Garbage Pail Kids were all the rage, and I was one of the most avid collectors in my school (much to my parents’ chagrin). By the time The Garbage Pail Kids Movie came out in August of 1987, I couldn’t have cared less (and judging from the box office receipts, those feelings were shared by most of my peers). Ultimately, it went down as one of the worst flops (and critical disasters) in the history of modern film.

I guess what I’m saying is this: My jaw dropped a little when I read that the Tornate Company, a production shingle run by ex-Disney CEO Michael Eisner, is planning a new Garbage Pail Kids Movie. I mean, it’s obvious that Hollywood has an unquenchable thirst for easily rebooted brands, but the Garbage Pail Kids? Really? How can anyone expect this to end well?

One positive sign: The new-look Garbage Pail Kids Movie is being directed by PES, (aptly) described by Collider as an “acclaimed creator of a number of stop-motion animated shorts.” So if nothing else, it should at least look better than the original film, which was unrelentingly cheap and ugly. On the other hand, I’m not sure Garbage Pail Kids were ever supposed to be anything but cheap and ugly.

Take a look at a PES short — and the trailer for the original Garbage Pail Kids Movie — below. Will you be watching the reboot?